Services Offered

Legacy offers book & document conservation services only. Book
conservation differs from library (or machine) binding. Simple
re-covering, re-gluing, or other machine operations are best done by a
library binding service. Likewise, I do not do limited-edition
binding. And I do not do art or photographic conservation.

All the work I do is done by hand, with attention to preserving the
original character and materials of the book, to the greatest degree
possible and appropriate. Any deviations to this are always
discussed with the client in advance. Depending on the degree of
work required, a book may need minimal cleaning, perhaps a protective
box, or may need to be unbound, the pages washed to remove accumulated
dirt or water damage, then resized, resewn, and recased in either a new
or rejuvenated original binding. This can range from just a couple
of hours labor (our minimum) to 20 hours of labor or more.

I am dedicated to preserving the legacy of books and documents
that we have inherited. To the best of my knowledge and ability I use
techniques and materials that will last for generations. Whenever
possible, the materials are of archival quality: acid-free and buffered
papers & board, inert and reversible adhesives, unbleached linen thread,
et cetera. The techniques I use for binding and conservation work
are likewise archivally oriented, non-damaging, and reversible in the
event the book or document requires additional attention in the future.
All work is, of course, unconditionally guaranteed.

I do offer document cleaning, de-acidification, and Mylar-D encapsulation
services, as well. Torn pages (either in a sole document or as
part of a book) are typically repaired using wheat paste and hand-made
kozo paper. Frequently, old documents have been stored either
rolled-up or folded; these need to be enclosed in a humidity chamber for
a time to allow the fibers to relax, then the document flattened under
restraint prior to other conservation work being performed.

I do some custom binding, but only on a very limited basis.

All conservation work is billed at $125.00 per hour, with a two hour
minimum charge, plus the cost of materials. Shipping, if necessary,
is extra. Before any work is begun, I will discuss with the client
the level of treatment required, and provide a written estimate that I
will stand by. I cannot provide an estimate until I have actually
seen the book or document in question. A deposit of half the estimate
is required before work is begun, with the balance due upon completion of
the work. Institutional clients are welcome, and will be invoiced.

If you need information about the value of a book, start here:
Your Old Books
from the Rare Books and Manuscripts Section, Association of College and
Research Libraries.